Unilever, UK, EY Announce Grant Of £500,000 For Startups

Unilever, in collaboration with United Kingdom and Ernst and Young has awarded £500,000 in grant funding to five West African enterprises focused on circularity and regenerative agriculture.

In Nigeria, three winners were selected following a rigorous evaluation.

The list of start-ups include Chanja Datti, Planet 3R and Scrapays. While Chanja Datti is a startup decentralising plastic waste processing with Micro-Recycling Plants (MRPs) near waste collection points, Planet 3R is a social enterprise enhancing the livelihoods of women and youths in Nigeria by teaching them weaving skills to convert plastic and textile waste into functional goods (e.g., bags, boxes). Also, Scrapays is a digital platform connecting waste producers to aggregators and processors.

Speaking on the initiative, British deputy high commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter praised the innovators’ creative approach to plastic waste management, stating that “It’s very promising to see so many strong candidates working to reduce, collect and process plastic waste. With the World Earth Day fast approaching, we’re proud to support three Nigerian enterprises – Scrapays, Chanja Datti, and Planet3R who are demonstrating how digital networks can address recycling challenges and create economic growth while contributing to the global net-zero agenda.”

On his part, country managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, Tobi Adeniyi, highlighted the importance of TRANSFORM’s approach which puts decision-making power into the hands of local leaders.

“At TRANSFORM, we strongly believe that the best solutions are those developed by those closest to the challenge at hand. By tapping into our networks and expertise, we were able to use our local lens to identify the best innovators in the region,” he said.

The selected enterprises will be able to receive in-kind support from EY professionals, helping them navigate growth challenges and scale their impact.

Senior partner, Head of Markets – EY West Africa, Ashish Bakhshi also commented: “At EY, we are proud to collaborate with Unilever and BHC on TRANSFORM, where we bring our knowledge, skills and professional experience to support impactful enterprises and foster innovation. We saw many applications from across the region that are coming up with creative, innovative and inspiring solutions towards creating a more sustainable world – and we look forward to harnessing this ecosystem to create a better future for everyone, together.”